Mount Royal University Centennial

    

Kicking off centennial

 

Larry Robinson ended his 14-year hall of fame football career kicking the ball.

The Mount Royal alumnus, who never missed a game in his storied professional career, says it’ll be nice to get back out in front of Stampeders faithful, when he opens the Aug. 15 Stampeders/Edmonton Eskimos game putting boot to pig-skin for the first time in a very long time.

Robinson — who starred for the Stampeders from 1961 to 1975 — is also excited to be kicking off Mount Royal University’s year-long centennial extravaganza. Robinson played football while studying at Mount Royal in 1960 and 1961 before making the jump to professional football, first as a wide receiver, then a defensive safety and finally a place kicker.

All blue at Red and White Club

Robinson and fellow Mount Royal alumni who also went on to play with the Stampeders will be honoured with commemorative jerseys at a ceremony prior to the kickoff at the Red and White Club at McMahon Stadium.

“This is great to get the guys together who played at Mount Royal and then professional ball together,” says Robinson.

“I’m proud of how far the school has come. From the school moving downtown at the end of 7 Ave., up to the big campus now with all the developments in between — it’s pretty neat to see,” says Robinson.

“Back then everybody knew everybody at the campus. It was a small place but it was special, particularly once we got the football team.”

The team played from 1960 to 1965 before being disbanded as the campus went in a transition phase, which ultimately led to its move from downtown Calgary to its current location.

Robinson awards and honours All-western defensive back — 1965, 1971-1972 Dr. Beattie Martin Trophy — 1961 Dave Dryburgh Memorial Trophy — 1964, 1965 Most Valuable Canadian — 1963-1964 First CFL player to score 1,000 points in a career Inducted into the CFL Hall of Fame in 1998

Robinson is one of Mount Royal’s most celebrated alumni. Event coordinator and Mount Royal’s Director of Alumni Relations, Randy Paquette, says it’s a particular honour to have someone of his calibre represent Mount Royal as it launches this historic year.

It’s also a landmark for the Stampeders organization, which is celebrating its 65th anniversary this summer and it is the 50th anniversary of McMahon Stadium.

Great teamwork

Stampeders Vice-President Business Development, Lee Genier sees the evening as a natural collaboration.

“We’re both so entrenched in the local community and have such a long storied history that it just makes sense,” says Genier, who is also a Mount Royal alumnus and chair of the Mount Royal Alumni Association.

“Not to mention, so many of our people have spent time at Mount Royal. We’ve had a number of players and other Stampeders who went to Mount Royal right on up through the executive including Stan Schwartz who’s our executive vice-president, myself and Don Ingram who’s part of the ownership group.”

Community celebrations

Mount Royal’s Paquette says the community aspect of the celebration is the heart of the centennial celebrations.

“Kicking off our centennial celebrations with the Stampeders demonstrates the strong roots that both organizations have in our community,” says Paquette. “In many ways, we have both been important partners in the development of the city and that’s something we’re proud of and look forward to continue for a long time to come.”

Centennial celebrations will include many exciting moments over the upcoming year such as the Legacy of Ideas speaker series, which includes high profile speakers such as author Malcolm Gladwell.

At the game

Check out a photo gallery from the game.

— Steven Noble, Aug. 13, 2010